With too much power in its hands, BN risks complacency

COMMENT | I have been taking a breather by focusing on food reviews, thinking that I could come back with a more balanced view of both BN and Pakatan Harapan.

Sadly, my perspectives and observations have not changed, and I am not expecting things to change for the better for BN.

In fact, what is most damaging so far to the ruling coalition is the claim by the US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions that the alleged misappropriation of funds from 1MDB is “kleptocracy at its worst”.

While both coalitions have good and the ugly sides at the same time - to be fair, there is no perfect organisation or political party so long as we are still humans - but to allow alleged kleptocrats to continue to ruin this country is one of the biggest sins.

Islamist party PAS, which is supposed to apply a check-and-balance on its rival party Umno has also lost its bearing under the leadership of its president, Abdul Hadi Awang. PAS’ suit against Sarawak Report editor, Clare Rewcastle-Brown has also opened a new can of worms with regards to the 1MDB scandal.

This is what baffles me, to think that there is too much power on one side to the point that BN no longer cares about its own public image in order to win the support of its voters.

Alleged kleptocrats are allowed to get away scot-free while someone like Siti Noor Aishah Atam was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for having a few books for her own academic research work. These books were never banned by Malaysia anyway.

As Malaysian human rights activist Charles Hector argues, the ruling is not only unjust, but is also seriously flawed. “Amongst others,” Hector points out, “there is a lack of mens rea (intention) in this offence - a flaw which was supposed to be remedied in an amendment, but which is yet to be done...